HD Heads-Up: July 11-17

July 2, 2026 0 Comments

➢➢ M.I.A. (Duke, 9.30 Friday) lands on linear two days after its TVNZ+ debut whereas another new drama series already is streaming on the service. House of Gods (TVNZ 1, 12.35am Sunday) is a 2024 Australian drama that’s been dubbed “Succession in a mosque”. It’s about an elite Iraqi Australian family whose patriarch is elected the supreme head cleric of a Western Sydney mosque. The Guardian thought it “disappointingly shallow” but acknowledged its “heady mix of power, politics and faith”. ScreenHub called it “solidly enjoyable [as] melodrama” while Variety praised its “rich portrayal” of a Muslim community. Says co-creator Shahin Shafaei: “It is an entertaining show filled with complicated family dynamics, power struggles, and workplace conflicts. It is all these things, and an exploration into the cultural nuances of a community trying to call a new country home” …

➢➢ Forensics: Murder Scene (Duke, 9.40 Sunday) is a Channel 5 true-crime docuseries that’s more authentic than most. “It is a privilege to see just what work goes into every murder investigation,” The Times said. “No detail or piece of analysis was omitted.” The I Paper wasn’t as thrilled: “It was refreshing to see methodical, careful police work carried out to a high standard – but it didn’t make for exciting TV” …

➢➢ Starting new seasons are Bergerac S2 (TVNZ 1, 9.05 Saturday), Bondi Rescue S11 (Three, 6.30 Sunday) and Clarkson’s Farm S3 (TVNZ 1, 7.30 Wednesday) while ending their runs are: